Political Science (B.A.)
Administered by Department of Political Science
Effective Spring 2020
As per PRP3604: All students earning a first baccalaureate degree will take at least 30 of their last 45 credits at Bloomsburg University, no more credits are required than the 30 credits. All first baccalaureate students will take at least 50% of credits required for the Major from a PASSHE university. Bloomsburg University may require up to a maximum of 50% of the Major credits. Program exceptions to the policy are to be approved by the Office of the Chancellor.
A total of 39 semester hours are required for a major in political science; the balance of the university's 120-semester hour requirement for a bachelor's degree come from general education courses and free elective courses.
Core Courses (12 credits)
Complete all 4 courses with a C or better grade. No prerequisites.
POLISCI.108 Contemporary Political Ideologies
POLISCI.120 U.S. Government
POLISCI.260 Intro to Comparative Politics
POLISCI.280 Intro to International Relations
Methods (3 credits)
Complete POLISCI 300 with a C or better grade.
Prerequisites:
Complete foundational math course (MATH 141 strongly recommended).
Core courses must be either completed or taken concurrently with POLISCI 300; or by permission of the Chair.
POLISCI.300 Political Science Research
Prerequisite Guide
Complete advanced courses under C. Electives and D Concentration using this guide.
Prerequisite: POLISCI.108
POLISCI.377 Feminist Political Theory
POLISCI.405 Development of Political Thought
POLISCI.409 American Political Thought
POLISCI.492 Seminar – Government and Politics
POLISCI.375 Multicultural Theory
Prerequisite: POLISCI.120
POLISCI.307 Ethics in Politics and Public Policy
POLISCI.325 Campaigns and Elections
POLISCI.326 Parties Groups & Public Opinion
POLISCI.336 Public Administration Theory
POLISCI.422 Gender and Politics
POLISCI.429 Racism/Sexism Am Politics
POLISCI.437 Public Admin Application
POLISCI.438 Public Personnel Administration
POLISCI.440 President & Congress
POLISCI.446 Constitutional Law 1
POLISCI.447 Constitutional Law 2
POLISCI.448 The Judicial Process
POLISCI.452 State & Local Government
POLISCI.456 Public Policy
POLISCI.492 Seminar – Government and Politics
Prerequisite: POLISCI 260/280
POLISCI.310 Government and Politics of China
POLISCI.322 Political Violence
POLISCI.340 Politics of Immigration
POLISCI.345 Democratization and Regime Change
POLISCI.350 Globalization and the United Nations
POLISCI.366 European Politics
POLISCI.368 Asian Politics
POLISCI.371 African Politics
POLISCI.376 Middle East Politics
POLISCI.458 US Foreign Policy
POLISCI.462 Information Technology and World Politics
POLISCI.466 International Relations in the Asia Pacific
POLISCI.487 International Law and Organizations
POLISCI.492 Seminar – Government and Politics
Concentration (9 credits)
Complete 3 courses in one of the 5 concentration areas.
Prerequisites:
Must complete core course in related subfields (see Prerequisite Guide above).
POLISCI 300 must be either completed before or taken concurrently with any advanced course.
In lieu of these prerequisites, a student may gain permission from the instructor.
American Government and Politics:
POLISCI.303 Politics and the Arts
POLISCI.325 Campaigns and Elections
POLISCI.326 Parties Groups and Public Opinion
POLISCI.409 American Political Thought
POLISCI.422 Gender and Politics
POLISCI.429 Racism/Sexism Am Politics
POLISCI.440 President and Congress
POLISCI.452 State and Local Government
POLISCI.456 Public Policy
POLISCI.492 Seminar – Government and Politics
International Studies:
POLISCI.310 Government and Politics of China
POLISCI.322 Political Violence
POLISCI.340 Politics of Immigration
POLISCI.345 Democratization and Regime Change
POLISCI.350 Globalization and the United Nations
POLISCI.366 European Politics
POLISCI.368 Asian Politics
POLISCI.371 African Politics
POLISCI.376 Government and Politics of the Middle East
POLISCI.458 US Foreign Policy
POLISCI.462 Information Technology and World Politics
POLISCI.466 International Relations in the Asian Pacific
POLISCI.487 International Law and Organizations
POLISCI.492 Seminar – Government and Politics
Public Administration:
POLISCI.307 Ethics in Politics and Public Policy
POLISCI.336 Public Administration Theory
POLISCI.437 Public Administration Application
POLISCI.438 Public Personnel Administration
POLISCI.456 Public Policy
POLISCI.492 Seminar – Government and Politics
Legal Studies:
POLISCI.446 Constitutional Law I
POLISCI.447 Constitutional Law II
POLISCI.448 Judicial Process
POLISCI.487 International Law and Organizations
POLISCI.492 Seminar – Government and Politics
Free Electives: Any 2 courses from the above lists
Electives (12 credits)
Complete any 4 advanced courses (300/400 level) not part of the Concentration.
Prerequisites:
Must complete core course(s) in related subfield (see Prerequisite Guide above).
POLISCI 300 must be either completed before or taken concurrently with any advanced course.
In lieu of the prerequisites, a student may gain permission from the instructor.
Capstone (3 credits)
Complete 1 course listed below. Students may complete both options.
Prerequisites:
Completion of all core courses, POLISCI 300, and a minimum of 5 out of 7 courses from the Elective and Concentration. The latter requirement may be waived by permission of the chair.
Internship: minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA or at the discretion of the chair; gain permission from academic advisor and campus Director of Academic Internships; complete at least 60 credit hours, or by permission of the Department Chair.
Thesis:
POLISCI.480 Political Science Capstone
Internship:
POLISCI.497 Internship Political Science
POLISCI 492 (Seminar) may count in one or more areas of the curriculum depending on the topic. Check with the Department for specific information.
Students have the option of designing their own concentration. To do so, they must first gain the approval of their academic advisor and use their idea as a guide for determining which core course should serve as a prerequisite.
Some internships such as The Washington Center (TWC) and The Harrisburg Internship Semester (THIS) have separate course designations.
Courses that do not count toward the major: POLISCI 101, 121, 181